Regulating opinions

Regulating opinions

Expressing views will be made subject to regulations by the
government. In a hearing with the House of Representatives'
Commission II in Jakarta yesterday (Monday), Home Minister
Mohamad Yogie S.M. said that before very long the government will
issue a decree to regulate demonstrations. There are plans to
name the regulation: Procedures for the Expression of Opinions in
Accordance with Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

According to the Home Minister views regarding the plan are at
present being gathered from experts, society leaders and other
parties concerned. This is necessary, the minister said, in order
that the implementation of the regulation will cause no
disturbances.

With the debate barely subsided on whether or not licenses for
seminars, discussions and other current events are necessary, now
even the manner of expressing views is about to be regulated by
decree.

Also, it seems that the name Pancasila is being overused and
applied to subjects that are ill-suited. It is not the display of
the word Pancasila that gives a decree its strength of authority,
but whether or not it carries the substance of the Pancasila
ideology.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta